Compliance Management

USCIS Proposed Fee and Form Changes and Other Related Proposals

UPDATE: USCIS published a final fee rule on August 3, 2020 that was to become effective 60 days later, on October 2, 2020. The rule specified: "Any application, petition, or request postmarked on or after this date must be accompanied with the fees established by this final rule." The rule also

Pre-Registration Requirement for Cap-Subject H-1B Petitioners

On January 31, 2019, DHS published a final rule governing petitions filed on behalf of H-1B beneficiaries who may be counted toward the 65,000 H-1B cap (regular cap) or the 20,000 beneficiaries with advanced degrees from U.S. institutions of higher education who are eligible for an exemption from

Pre-Submitted Questions and Answers by SEVP for Fall 2019 NAFSA Regional Conferences

SEVP written responses to pre-submitted questions from NAFSA, for the Fall 2019 NAFSA Regional Conferences.

Upload of STEM OPT Form I-983 Training Plans in SEVIS Release 6.49

Beginning with SEVIS Release 6.49 (scheduled release date November 17, 2019), DSOs will be able to upload Form I-983 training plans in SEVIS when recommending initial STEM OPT, adding a STEM employer, and at the 12 and 24 month self-evaluation reporting periods. View SEVP's: SEVIS Release 6.49

Presidential Proclamation 9945

Update: President Biden revoked former President Trump's Proclamation 9945 on May 14, 2021. See Proclamation 10209 of May 14, 2021: A Proclamation on Revoking Proclamation 9945. This discussion of the subsequently revoked Proclamation 9945 is maintained for research purposes. Under Presidential

22cfr41100

March 5, 2023

22 CFR Part 41 Subparts J, K, L (22 CFR 41.101 - 22 CFR 41.122) This resource is a reference aid developed by the NAFSA Adviser's Manual 360 team. This is not an official edition of the Code of Federal Regulations. For information on the official edition of the Code of Federal Regulations published

EAD Delays, Remedies, and Possible Litigation

This Government Connection featured immigration attorneys Ron Klasko and Tammy Fox-Isicoff for a discussion of the USCIS Employment Authorization Document (EAD) backlogs and processing delays, the (granted, very limited) remedies for applicants, and possible litigation to force improvements. They

SEVP Portal Becomes Available To Students For Only Six Months Following OPT

According to SEVP's Broadcast Message 1910-01 (October 2, 2019), after the SEVP Portal upgrades to Releases 1.10 and 1.11 (as soon as October, 2019): "students will only have access to the SEVP Portal for up to six months after their OPT ends... In preparation for account closure, SEVP strongly

SEVP Policy Guidance: Practical Training-Determining a Direct Relationship Between Employment and a Student's Major Area of Study

On September 27, 2019, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program issued policy guidance on the obligations of schools and students to document that there is a direct relationship between the student's major field of study and the work the student does on pre-completion OPT, standard post-completion

20cfr655700

September 26, 2019

20 CFR Part 655, Subpart H Labor Condition Applications and Requirements for Employers Seeking To Employ Nonimmigrants on H-1b Visas in Specialty Occupations and as Fashion Models, and Requirements for Employers Seeking To Employ Nonimmigrants on H-1b1 and E-3 Visas in Specialty Occupations This